I drink room temperature
water so my tongue doesn�t know
the glass is empty until
he makes me thirsty

again I trace circles
along the edge of this
back and forth
my desk and the bathroom
at work it�s the only place
I can go because mascara runs
and there�s nothing in my car except
paper napkins rolled into fists

from the coffee shop
the cup on my desk thinks
it has the answer on its cardboard sleeve
says be careful my lipstick

dries up
like oatmeal
on this spoon he takes me
into his mouth
where everything becomes
soft again.



�2006 by Tammy Trendle